First Bite: How We Learn to Eat

Bee Wilson argues that human food preferences are not innate, but learned through early experience and repetition. She examines how flavor predispositions develop in the womb and how the "tiny tastes" method can help children overcome neophobia. The book details the psychological mechanisms behind picky eating, the impact of family dynamics at the dinner table, and the history of changing dietary habits. Wilson explains that our palates are plastic, meaning adults can re-educate their taste buds to enjoy vegetables and bitter flavors through consistent exposure.

This book is for parents struggling with mealtime conflicts and adults seeking to change their long-term eating habits. It attracts readers who want to understand the origins of their cravings rather than follow a strict diet plan. Readers walk away with practical techniques for identifying emotional triggers and a strategy for slowly expanding their sensory horizons. They learn that liking healthy food is a skill cultivated through habit rather than a matter of willpower or genetics.